The infected deer originated in two townships south of Rockford, a community just north of Grand Rapids. The Michigan Department of Agriculture also recently confirmed three cases of EEE in horses in Michigan, including two in Kent County.

The deer specimens were submitted for testing by the public after some deer in Kent County were observed behaving abnormally. A media report speculated that the deer had Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), but all have tested negative for CWD.

Testing by DNR and MSU scientists at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health have confirmed EEE in two of the six deer presented for testing, according to DNR Wildlife Veterinarian Steve Schmitt. Test results suggest EEE was likely present in two others. Michigan becomes only the second state in the country to document EEE in free-ranging white-tailed deer. The first case was documented in 2001 in Georgia.

EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes, much like West Nile Virus. There is a human health risk to EEE, as humans who are bitten by mosquitoes carrying the disease can become fatally ill, cautioned Michigan Community Health Department Director Janet D. Olszewski. It is possible that a person could become infected with EEE by getting brain or spinal cord matter from an infected deer in their eyes, lungs, or in skin wounds. The last case of EEE in a human in Michigan was documented in 2002. While rare, state health officials urged citizens to take extra precautions against EEE by taking action to reduce mosquito populations; using insect repellents for personal protection from bites; keeping tight screens on windows, doors and porches; and using protective clothing.

“It is encouraging that citizens have an increased awareness of wildlife disease and, with the help of county sheriff’s deputies were willing to bring these deer to our attention,” said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. “We encourage any citizen who observes a deer that is obviously sick and behaving abnormally to contact the closest DNR field office during business hours or the DNR Report All Poaching (RAP) Line after 5 p.m. and on the weekends to provide critical information so we can continue to monitor EEE in this region.”

The DNR RAP Line is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-292-7800. Reports also can be made online at the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr by clicking on Law Enforcement under the “Inside the DNR” menu. Use the Report All Poaching form to report the animal. Also, the public can use the Michigan Emerging Diseases Web site at www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases to report deer that appear to be sick. Use the West Nile reporting form and indicate you are reporting EEE.

DNR officials urged hunters entering the fall hunting season to exercise extra caution while hunting in Kent County. Hunters should observe the following safety procedures recommended by the DNR since 2002:

Humphries noted that hunters and the general public should not dispatch any deer that they suspect might be infected with EEE but instead report abnormally-behaving deer to the DNR immediately. It is critical that these deer be properly euthanized to preserve organs for testing. “Timely and proper collection of deer specimens is crucial to accurate diagnosis,” Humphries said.

EEE is transmitted by mosquitoes that usually frequent hardwood swamps. Mosquitoes that have fed on birds carrying EEE can transmit the disease to horses, deer and humans. The state has documented cases of EEE in horses in southern Michigan for at least 40 years, and a vaccine to protect horses is available. Horses, and probably deer, do not develop high enough levels of EEE virus in their blood to be contagious to other animals or humans by direct contact alone.

For more information on EEE and other emerging diseases in Michigan, visit the Michigan Emerging Diseases Web site at www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.